First NBA Café in Asia set to open in Manila in September

NBA CAFE IN MANILA (From left), NBA staff Francesco Suarez, Vice President for Business Development & Marketing Partnerships, NBA Asia; Carlo Singson, NBA Asia Country Manager-Philippines; Scott Levy, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, NBA Asia; NBA Legend Muggsy Bogues; Vicente Cheng, Chairman, Hoopla Inc.; Nian Rigor; Chico Sy of SM Engineering Design and Development; and Steven Tan, Vice President for Operations, SM Premier Malls.

MANILA Philippines — What better place to hold a viewing party of the annual NBA All-Star game or game seven of the NBA Finals than in a league-owned Café?

Such NBA Café is coming to Manila this September.

NBA, in partnership with Hoopla Inc. announced on Monday the construction of the first-ever NBA Café in Asia, located at the soon-to-open SM Aura Mall in Bonifacio Global City.

The NBA Café plans to provide a dining and entertainment experience that any NBA — or just basketball fan — would love, aiming to capture the atmosphere and excitement the NBA gives.

There will be a vast memorabilia display, lots of TV screens which will show regular NBA highlights and programming, a retail area, viewing parties and even appearances by NBA talents.

“Basketball fans in the country now have a place dedicated and designed specifically for them,” said Nian Rigor, Assistant Vice President of Hoopla Inc. in a statement. “This stays in line with our goal to bring new experiences and concepts to Filipinos.”

This venture is only the second, league-owned restaurant set to open outside the United States. An NBA Café is also planned for Madrid, Spain this year.  NBA City, the league’s first themed restaurant, opened in 1999 at the Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, Florida.

“The NBA Café will be a unique destination that will bring NBA basketball closer to our fans in the Philippines,” said Carlo Singson, Philippines’ NBA Country Manager.

The NBA recently announced a comprehensive global games schedule that will include a total of eight games in six countries this October, including the first ever preseason game in the Philippines.